Hello again, guys!

As you know, learning languages is not always easy. Sometimes we need to go back ten steps in order to go forward just one. This is exactly how I've been feeling lately. It's been a bit hard for me to learn Swedish and that's why I had a couple of weird situations, which, I'm not gonna lie, were quite uncomfortable. So, it's time that we have some fun here and look at the most embarrassing mistakes I've made in Swedish!

1. Declining adjectives wrong

This happened not long after I decided to learn Swedish. I wanted to ask a friend something, which I thought was stupid, so I referred to it as "idiotic". However, little did I know that I was actually calling my friend an idiot, hahaha. The thing is that I wanted to learn to decline adjectives on my own, without books so,  I just gave it a try and turned out wrong, haha. As you may know, English and Swedish are rather similar. So, I thought: "Oh, this must be like in English! Something is just 'idiot'." Oh. My. God. How wrong I was! Haha.

2. Translating the word "excited" wrong

One of the hardest words to find a translation for is probably "excited", and let's say that that was my case: I was not able to find the right translation. I wanted to say that I was looking forward to some event, and I ended up saying something totally different with sexual connotations. I think you guys get what I said, hahaha.

3. Schweiz and linguistic family trees

As it happens, Swedish comes from the Germanic family tree of languages, which means that it's very similar to German as well.  In Swedish schools, German is often offered as a second language. So, I thought that the connection was such that maybe Swedish had borrowed some German words into the language. You guys probably know the tastiest chocolate in Sweden and the whole world (wink, wink), Marabou. Well, the version with crushed nuts is called Schweizernöt and silly me thought, schweizernöt was a German word, hahaha. It actually means Swiss nuts. 

4. Partikelverb and their objects

There are some verbs in Swedish called partikelverb, which are the equivalent to the English phrasal verbs. However, they are a bit trickier than in English. I was trying to compliment a friend saying that he looked good in a picture, but I ended up saying that his vision was actually a bit poor, hahah. In Swedish the object that goes with the verb se ut goes between these two. Unfortunately, I placed it in the wrong side and it changed the whole meaning of what I actually wanted to say. 

That's it for this mini version of my mistakes in Swedish.  I hope you guys enjoyed it! Have you experienced something similar in any other language or in Swedish? Tell me! 

~ Love, Ana ~ 

Guys, I love reading. Really, like love reading in capital letters. I'm probably one of those people who gets happy with a rainy day because that means that it's the perfect weather for enjoying a book. Now, if you guys combine that with my passion for learning languages, you probably got it right! My shelves are full of books in more than one language.

Truth is I love learning languages by reading because there are so many ways with one can practice. But, long story short. This is my story with books and Swedish:

1. Lille prinsen by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

If you guys remember, I mentioned in another post that one of my Brazilian friends gave me this book in Swedish as a gift. We had talked about this book before, especially how he had read it many times and it was his favourite book and how I never read it before. I know, that's probably a crime since it is probably the world's most famous book.

I first started to read it when my friend gave it to me. I found it really hard at the beginning. I wouldn't be able to read more than a couple of pages in an hour. My Swedish was also really bad and I hadn't been studying regularly. But, once I created a routine and was really stubborn with keeping on reading, I started seeing results! And it felt so great. I think there's nothing better than the feel of improving or even having your first successful conversation in your target language for a language learner, right, guys?

However, the reality was that, although I got way better in Swedish, I still struggled with this book. Sometimes I couldn't even find the words in the dictionary. I think this was maybe because it wasn't an adapted version and it was like the real one. I heard that there is an adapted version for language learners. At least in Spanish. Although, maybe I'm wrong. Anyway, I loved the book so much that I'm planning on re-reading it! I think that somehow, Lille prinsen, being such a wonderful and inspiring book, makes you fall more in love with your target language and the book. This is one of those books that it doesn't matter in what language you read it. It will always be wonderful.

2. Bröderna Lejonhjärta by Astrid Lindgren

One thing that I had really clear was that once I started reading a book in Swedish, I would start my journey with children books and, especially, with books of Astrid Lindgren. This book also has a story: last year for Christmas, my friend Tommy came to Spain and he gave me this book as a Christmas gift! I'm actually enjoying this one, although not as much as Lille prinsen. But, I must say that this one is much easier. At least, when I first opened it, I read the first page at once and without looking for any words in the dictionary.

I'm still reading it and I have a lot ahead yet, but I think that the only things I'm struggling with are the hunting/fighting vocabulary, especially those words related to riding and the spelling since it is the old spelling, I think. I have it a bit confusing when I'm gonna write in Swedish after having read the book haha.

Tell me guys what you think and if you have read these books or what book you are reading. I'll keep updating this post once I finish with a book! See you soon.

 ~ Love, Ana ~

As one of my friends say: "People is the thing."

As I was looking at my Swedish corner in my room, I found the inspiration to write this post. And, the truth is that my corner is not an ordinary one: there, I have photos of the cities I've visited in Sweden, a small flag of those from Ikea, photos of the Swedish nature that so much gets me crazy, stamps and, to me, the most important thing: photos of those people who help and have helped me with Swedish and gets me the motivation and inspiration to go on everyday. However, there are much more than just these.

Stockholm. Winter. By Ana Ramírez

The first person who started helping me was Martin, who you may know as The Swedish Lad, if you follow him on Youtube. When I first thought of learning Swedish, I went to Youtube and found his vocabulary and culture videos there. I've known him for three years or so and earlier this year was the first time that I got to meet him. Martin is one of the persons who inspires me the most everyday with all his positive energy and his projects ideas.

The second person is my super friend Tommy. Not only did he help me with my first linguistic project on Swedish, and that's how I met him, by the way, but he has helped me practicing speaking in Swedish, he has shown me hundreds of cultural things, he brought me Swedish folk music closer and cooked the most delicious Swedish meals ever! But this relationship is very very enriching. We have grown together the time that we have spent together. 

In the third place I've got my Brasilian engineering friend, Bianor, whom my sister and I are secretly training in linguistics. I told him I never read "The Little Prince" before, so he had the awesome idea of giving it to me as a gift and in Swedish! But what I appreciate the most is the note that he wrote to me. Whenever I feel doubtful of what I am doing, I read it and get the energy and determination to go on  with it.

Then I have Maria and Martin. Maria is a very sweet girl with whom I write e-mails with in Swedish and she does it in Spanish. And that I like a lot because I really enjoy writing e-mails and she has helped me to improve my writing skills and also my speaking ones.

Martin is a guy that I've gotten to meet through a very good language app at the beginning of the summer, approximately. In him I've found myself, in the sense that we have a lot of things in common that I've never had with anyone before. Also, not only he helps me with my Swedish, I help him with his Spanish, as well. I found it very enriching, to be honest. He is the first swede I meet who wants to learn Spanish. So, sometimes I get the terrible feeling of wanting to meet him just to listen to him speaking Spanish with his melodic Swedish accent. Because, who doesn't want to listen to an adorable Swedish double-accent? Moreover, I've got the feeling that we are gonna be very good friends and  I admire him because he has been learning Spanish for very few months and is so good at it!

Malmö. Winter. By Ana Ramírez

But this is no the whole list of all the people who have helped me. There are much more with whom I've just shared small talks or e-mails or anything. And most probably, it is that I've been nothing without them! Tack så mycket. 

~ Love, Ana ~

Hello people!

I am back! Hopefully, for a longer while this time. Last year I was deciding whether to study in Sweden with the Erasmus scholarship or not. I decided to go to Limerick (Ireland) instead since I planned a little something for Sweden for the future. Anyway, four months ago I moved to Ireland to study and I absolutely love it there. Although I know I would love it much more in Sweden. 

In Ireland I met a couple of Scandinavian people. One of them was a boy from South Sweden who has helped me a lot with Swedish and taught me many things about Sweden and the Swedish culture. Specially, he has been as an inspiration to me, that constantly reminded me of my dream and helped me reach it. 

When it comes to Sweden, I have big news! I am traveling with my sister to Stockholm in three days! We will also visit Malmö and Copenhagen. I am so excited to go back to Sweden, specially now that there is snow and every city will be covered in white.

Stockholm. Autumn. By Marta Vargas

P.S.: This trip means that I will have more photos to show about Sweden so there will be more entries here!

~ Love, Ana ~

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      ¡Hola a todos!

☁ ¡He vuelto! Espero que por una temporada algo más larga. El año pasado tuve que decidir si ir a estudiar a Suecia con la beca Erasmus o no. Sin embargo, decidí ir a Limerick (Irlanda), ya que tengo una pequeña cosa preparada en Suecia para el futuro. De todos modos, hace cuatro meses me mudé a Irlanda para estudiar y me encanta todo allí. Aunque sé que me encantaría mucho más en Suecia.

☁ En Irlanda, conocí a un par de personas de Escandinavia. Uno de ellos era un chico del sur de Suecia que me ha ayudado mucho con el sueco y me ha enseñado muchas cosas sobre Suecia y la cultura sueca. Más que nada, él me ha servido de inspiración, que constantemente me recordaba mi sueño y me ayudaba a alcanzarlo. 

☁ Hablando de Suecia, ¡tengo un súper notición! ¡Dentro de  tres días viajo con mi hermana a Estocolmo! También visitaremos Malmö y Copenhague. Tengo tantas ganas de volver a Suecia, especialmente ahora que hay nieve y están todas las ciudades cubiertas de blanco. 

P.D.: Este viaje significa que tendré más fotos para enseñar de Suecia, ¡por lo que habrán más entradas en el blog!

  ~ Con amor, Ana ~

Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I wrote an entry; and the reason why I didn't was because I've been busy with University, that is why I would like to write this new entry about some personal things about me. 

 I'm a nineteen-year-old student of English Literature and Linguistics. I've loved English since I was a child, but I also found out that I love Sweden and Swedish a couple years ago. I have the chance to apply for an Erasmus scholarship in any place. I've always wanted to choose this opportunity to live in Sweden and get to know the country, culture and know more about Swedish. But I also would like to go to England to improve my English. This month I have to choose where I want to go. I know I have the chance to go to England any time because it is very close and things there are easier, sort of. But I haven't got the chance to go to Sweden every day, right? I think that if I chose Sweden, I would have the possibility to go there later, maybe to have my master's there or even to work there would be easier if I already had some experience there, right? Still, I'm doubtful because of the money "problem". I would like to know more about how it is like to study in Sweden because there is not much-verified information about it.

 P.S: I would appreciate any info that you knew. There will be more entries soon, pinkie promise! ;)

Autumn. Malmö. By Hannah I.

☁  Where to find the pictures: http://coffeeworld.blogg.se

~ Love, Ana ~

Creo que todos tenemos un lugar especial del que queremos saber todo, al que queremos huir en cada día libre que tenemos, y que soñamos con él cada día, teniendo la esperanza de volver algún día. Pensando en que algunas personas puedan compartir el mismo lugar que yo, he decidido crear este blog y enseñaros mi sitio especial: Suecia.

Hace poco más de un año, pasé mis vacaciones de Navidad en un sitio cerca de Kungsbacka, al sur oeste de Suecia. Antes de ir, me pasaba todo el tiempo buscando información o fotos para saber algo más de allí y tener una idea de lo que iba a encontrarme. Pero mi sorpresa fue que nada de lo que había visto en fotos se parecía a lo que veía desde el avión conforme nos acercábamos al aeropuerto de Gotemburgo. Todo era distinto, y a la vez precioso. Cuando bajé del avión, quedé totalmente enamorada del pequeño y rojizo aeropuerto de Gotemburgo. Llamadme loca, pero en cuanto vi el cielo nublado, los pequeños restos de nieve, las casitas rojas con sus luces de Navidad, me enamoré, y supe que ese sería mi lugar especial y el que he estado buscando.

Göteborg City Airport

Desde que tengo uso de razón, creo yo, siempre he tenido un sueño de unas vacaciones perfectas, y estas eran en un lugar aislado y lleno de nieve, en una casita de madera y al calor de una chimenea. Cuando llegué a Suecia, volví a recordarlo y me di cuenta que, probablemente, estaba destinada a llegar allí y descubrir Suecia; y, que algún día, podré hacer este pequeño sueño realidad. Ahora tengo otro sueño, junto con este, y es el de vivir en Suecia. Sé que algún día lo conseguiré y no me importa cuanto tarde, pero lo haré.

Cuando volví a casa, empecé a estudiar sueco. Bueno, para ser exacta empecé el verano antes, pero después del viaje empecé a estudiar con más motivación e intensidad. También, empecé a buscar blogs sobre personas que comparten este mismo lugar que yo. Y es a través de ellos, de sus fotos, como voy a mostraros el encanto de este sitio y lo que nos enamora de él.

Y vuestro lugar favorito,¿cuál es?

Canción: Slow - Emerald Park

~ Con amor, Ana ~

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I think we all have a special place we want to know everything about, to which we want to run away in every day-off we have,  and we dream about it every day, hoping to return one day. I thought that some people may share the same place with me,  so I decided to create this blog and show you my special spot: Sweden.

About a year ago, I spent my Christmas holidays in a place near Kungsbacka, in the south-west of Sweden.  Before going there,  I spent all the time searching information or photos to know a little bit about that place, and to have some idea of what I was going to find when I get there. But, my surprise was that nothing of what I saw in the photos was similar to what I was seeing from the plane as it got closer to the airport of Gothenburg. Everything was different and beautiful at the same time. When I got off the plane, I fell totally in love with the small and reddish airport of Gothenburg. Call me crazy, but as soon as I saw the cloudy sky, the small remains of snow, the little red houses with its Christmas lights, I fell in love, and I knew that that would be my special place and the one I've been looking for.

As long as I can remember,  I think, I've always had a dream of a perfect holiday, and these were in an isolated place and full of snow, in a small wooden house, by the warmth of a chimney. When I arrived in Sweden, I remembered it and I realized that, probably, I was meant to arrive there and to discover Sweden, and, one day, I will be able to make this little dream come true. I have another dream now, together with this one, and it is living in Sweden.  I know that one day I will achieve it, and I don't mind how long it will take me, but I will.

When I came back home, I started to study Swedish. Well, to be accurate I started the previous summer, but, after the trip, I did it with more intensity and motivation. I also began to look for blogs of people who share this same place. It is through them, through their pictures, how I will show you the charm of this place and what makes us fall in love with it.

What about your favorite place? Which one is it?

Song: Slow- Emerald Park

 ~ Love, Ana ~